Wednesday 15 April 2015

Basic Sponge Cake

Wish you all Shubho Nabo Barsho (Happy New Year) as today here in Kolkata we are celebrating Bengali New Year. Here is my favorite recipe for you.

Since childhood i have been baking cakes. I remember helping my mother with the creaming of butter and sugar while my brother whisked the eggs. It is a very simple yet delicious recipe. Baking can be very easy if proper ingredients in proper quantities are used. I do not use any fancy tools or equipments. All you need is a whisk and a bowl. It is that simple. As there are only a few ingredients that go in so the quality of ingredients matter a lot. The good quality butter gives it a rich taste. The recipe is so simple and delicious that it is definitely worth trying.

It is very important to follow the steps correctly. To make the cake rise beat the eggs with sugar until it doubles in volume and turns pale.
2 eggs have increased in volume that it filled the bowl.
To keep the air in the mixture intact add the maida in 3 additions and fold it in using a metal spoon. Do not use wooden or rubber spoon as it will knock all the air out and the cake won’t rise.


Using this basic sponge you could either make a simple cake like this 

Or a beautiful cake like this.

Let’s make it.

Ingredients

130 gm plain flour (maida)
100 gm butter (melted)
120 gm sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
A pinch of salt
2 tbsp milk

Method

1. First beat the eggs and sugar until the mixture becomes pale and foamy.
2. Sift in 1/3rd of the flour and baking powder and fold gently.
3. Add the butter and flour alternatively to the batter.
4. Add vanilla extract and fold until everything is well incorporated.
5. Preheat the oven at 180° C or 356° F.
6. Bake in a 8 inch pan for 30-35 minutes.
7. Insert a skewer in the middle and if it comes out clean your cake is done.

Enjoy this recipe and don’t forget to give your valuable feedback. I shall see you next week with another easy yet delicious recipe.



Monday 6 April 2015

DONUTS


Donuts are one of the most loved desserts. Eaten as a snack or for breakfast it never fails to makes us happy. Today I am going to share a vegetarian recipe for it.

So let’s make it.

Ingredients

For donuts

2 cups flour (maida)
¾ cup milk (slightly warm)
¼ cup butter
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp dry active yeast
A pinch of salt
Oil for frying

For glaze

100 gm chocolate

Method

1. Make soft dough with the above ingredients.
2. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let the dough rest for 1 hour.
3. After 1 hour the dough will become double in size. Knead the dough to get rid of all the air in it.
4. Roll out the dough to ½ inch thickness and cut out the donut shape using two bowls of different sizes.
5. Let it rest for another hour or until it doubles in size.
6. Heat oil in a frying pan on medium heat and fry the donuts until light golden brown.
7. Melt chocolate in a double boiler (boil water in a bowl and put chocolate in a bigger bowl on top of it. The chocolate needs to be melted slowly to avoid burning.)
8.  Once the donuts have slightly cooled glaze the donuts by putting it in the melted chocolate and sprinkle colourful sprinkles on it for a beautiful look.